Siemens signs energy cooperation agreement with Cuban utility UNE

From left to right: Thomas Neisinger, German Ambassador in Cuba, Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, Federal Minister of Economic Development Germany BMZ, Willi Meixner, CEO of Siemens Power and Gas Division, Rubén Cid, Vice-Minister of Energy and Mining of Cuba, Livan Arronte Cruz, General Director of UNE, Marco Cosio, Siemens, and Pedro Barbachan, UNE.

Focus on power generation and transmission infrastructure upgrades

Siemens has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Unión Eléctrica (UNE) the Cuban state-owned utility with the intention to modernize the energy infrastructure of the country. In presence of Rubén Cid, Vice-Minister of Energy and Mining of Cuba, Livan Arronte Cruz, General Director of UNE, and Willi Meixner, CEO of Siemens Power and Gas Division, the partners agreed in Havana on discussing projects in the field of power generation, transmission and distribution. This also includes the opportunity for Siemens to supply power generating technology to existing and future power plant projects in Cuba.

"With this important agreement we consolidate our commitment and partnership with Cuba. We will assist and support Cuba and their people on the development of a sustainable and modern electricity system to ensure the country's economic and social development", said Willi Meixner, CEO of Power and Gas Division of Siemens.

Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens and UNE will agree on the development of projects and services within the power generation, transmission and distribution, renewable energy and automation sectors which involve UNE and any of their affiliates or subsidiaries. During the past months, both companies have been evaluating the current system and developed a country energy concept including recommendations on the development and optimization of Cuba's power generation infrastructure and mix.

The MoU also builds a closer and better technical cooperation between Germany and the Cuban state in energy related matters. Both parties also agreed to foster knowledge transfer initiatives to share examples of success stories in different parts of the world and technical training. In this sense, Siemens has already started training activities for UNE personal in Cuba and the future program will include also trainings in Germany, Mexico and other parts of the world.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines has set the goal to modernize the electricity system in order to provide a reliable, cost-efficient energy and introduce renewable energy generation supply for the more than 11 million Cuban people.

Siemens AG has being actively engaged in the past years supporting Cuba's development of its national healthcare system providing the island with the most advanced solutions in the fields of angiography, magnetic resonance and other different imaging areas.